Gas operated well pump



Jan. 24, 1939. R R A N v 2,144,679

GAS OPERATED WELL PUMP Filed Nov. 28, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Jan. 24, 1939 I I R. P. GRAYSON 2- 44,679

GAS OPERATED WELL PUMP Filed Nov. 28, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q lllll 77 V flfngysozv INVENTOR.

Jan. 24, 1939. R. P. GRAYSON GAS OPERATED WELL PUMP .5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov 28, 1936 :EL' EH15 ATTORNEY.'

Jan. 24, .1939. R. P. GRAYSON 2,144,679

GAS OPERATED WELL PUMP Filed Nov. 28, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet b flj fayson I'EVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to well pumps usually included in the tubing string and it has particular reference to a pump designed to lift oil from a well by gas pressure exerted upon pump elements by a surface means.

The foremost objects of the invention are:

first, the elimination of sucker rods operated from the surface; second, to provide a pump whose operativeness will not be impaired by 10 the accumulation of sand in the pump cylinder and around its piston or plunger; third, to provide a valve mechanism having attendant means to positively insure a complete stroke to open and closed positions of its ports; fourth, provision of 15 means for opening the pump to the tubing string by surface operated means; fifth, provision of means to introduce compressed gas to the pump by surface operated means; sixth, gas compressing means at the surface; seventh, means of conveying compressed gas to the pump from the surface; eighth, means of disposing of' With the foregoing objects as paramount the invention has other and lesser objects in view, 35 together with certain salient features of construction and operation, to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a surface como pressor.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a casing head,

fluid flow lines, power gas line and lubricator system.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the upper end 45 of the pump, constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a continuation of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a continuation of Figure 4, rotated 90.

Figure 6 is a continuation of Figure 5 in' the same plane as Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a continuation of Figure 6 in the,

same plane as Figure 6.

Figure Bis a continuation of Figure 7, showing the strainer at the bottom of the well,

Figure 9 is a view of the exhaust means for the operating gas, into the annular space between the tubing and casing, and is rotated 90 relative to Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 10 is a transverse ||0 on Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of the valve shifting means. v

Figure 12 is a perspective view, partly in seesection on lines tion of the preferred type of rotary valve, shown in inoperative position.

Figure 13 is a view on lines |3l3 on Figure 12, with the valve rotated to operative position.

I l-14 onFigure' 12. v

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the rotary valve illustrated in Figure 12, showing the attendant ports.

Figure 16 is a modified form of shifting means 20 on Figure 16.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary detail view of the gas passages between the-upper end of the cylinder and'the control valve, and

Figure 21 is a schematic view of the piston and valve assembly. Y

Continuing with a. detailed description of the drawings, it is pointed out that the pump of the invention maybe suspended at any point in a well, so long as the fluid therein enters the standing valve of the pump. If disposed above the natural fluid level in a well, the pump may be primed in the conventional manner.

Primarily, the pump is comprised of a swaged 40 nipple I, shown in Figure 3, suspended in the well by the tubing'string 2, which is surrounded by the casing 3. The lower end of the nipple l is exterlorly threaded to receive the coupling .4, which in turn receives the exterlorly threaded head 5 01 the pump mechanism. This head, as well as the suspended body 6 is centrally bored as shown toreceive the several operating ele ments of the pump, to be later identified and described. The upper end I of the bore, it will be observed, is beveled in the manner shown'in Figure 3 to afford a guide for the spear 8-which is inserted into the bore when it is desired to render the pump operative for reception of well fluid, after the preliminary swabbing operation, t5

Figure 14 is a similar view of the valve on lines 15 which will become manifest in the description of operation.

fluid in the annular space between tubing and the well casing 3, into the tubing in the swab- .bing operation and is provided with a screen or strainer |3 to prevent ingress of foreign matter with the fluid thus expelled from the easing space. Moreover, it is pointed out that this valve II, as well as perhaps'others of a similar nature (not shown) but located at spaced points in the tubing string 2, are effective for admitting into the tubing string a gaseous medium under pressure, introduced into the annular space between the tubing 2 and casing 3 by means of the compressor, tobe later identified by an appropriate character of reference.

Secured by bolts l3 (Fig. 4) to the body 6 of the pump is a member l4, the body 6 being provided with an annular flange |5 through which these bolts are passed. This member 4 is provided with a cavity |6 in the body 6 as well as a cavity immediately opposite. It will be understood that the two cavities are separate and non-communicating. Cavity |6 communicates with the fluid pipe l9, thence with valve I2, while cavity provides communication through the gas pressure pipe |9 between surface compressor 20 (Fig. 1) and the pipe 2| (Fig. 4) for conveying the gas pressure to a point in the pump for actuating the piston, to be presently described.

In the bore of the pump body 6 is mounted a cylinder 22, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

' In the lower end of this cylinder there is provided ports 23 (Fig, 4) which operatively coincide with ports 24 in the pump body 6 when the cylinder is urged downward against the spring 25, disposed between the lower end of the cylinder and a coupling 26 (Fig. 4). It is therefore apparent that until the cylinder is depressed to align these ports 23 and 24, the pump is inoperative;

To efiect alignment of the ports 23 and 24, a string of "macaroni tubing 21, (Figs. 1 and 3) is lowered into the tubing string 2 and is equipped with the spear 8, as well as with a valve 28 (Fig, 3). This valve consists of an elongated body having an axial passage 29, with a communicating transverse passage 39. This latter passage 30 coincides with ports, 3| in the cylinder 22, as shown, and when the latter is urged downward by weight imposed upon the spear 8v to compress the spring 25 (Fig. 4) the ports 3|, as well as the lateral passage 36, align with the end of the pipe l9, where it threadedly enters the pump body 6 (Fig. 3). Thus, gas pressure from the compressor 20 on thesurface is passed downward through the macaroni string 21, opening valve 32 (Fig. 3), thence through tube 33 into the axial passage of valve 26, thence through lateral passage 30 of this valve, ports 3| of the cylinder 22, into pipe l9, thence into the cavity I! (Fig. 4) and into pipe 2| communicating with this cavity. From this point, the gas under pressure is introduced into the passage 34in the cylinder coupling 26 (Figs. 4, 5 and 10), preparatory to entering the open end of the rotary valve 35 (Fig. 12).

It will be understood that in order to properly illustrate the relationship of the rotary Valve 35 and is stationary in the recess 52-.

with the companion elements and fluid and gas passages, the pump has been illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 as being rotated Therefore, it is apparent that the downwardly extending gas pressure passage 34 is disposed forwardly of the valve 35 as illustrated in Figure 5, the relationship between the valve and this passage being shown in the transverse sect-ion, Figure 10, on lines ||l||l on Figure 5.

- Referring now to Figure 15, it will be observed that the gas pressure in passage 34 is released into the cavity 36, made in the cylinder coupling 26, the entire assembly being encased in the steel cylindrical casing 31. From this cavity, the high pressure gas enters the rotary valve 35 at one end, and upon being rotated, in the manner to be presently explained, this gas so introduced, is allowed to pass through the main port 38 of the valve, into the passage 39, (Figs. 12 and 6) By placing Figure 15 above Figure 6, it will be noted that the passage 39in Figure 15 corresponds to the passage 39 in Figure 6 and terminates in two ports, one having a small orifice 40 start the piston 4|, while the companion port 42 serves as a capacity port to lift the piston 4| to its highest point in the cylinder 43.

It-is apparent therefore that gas pressure, supplied from the surface by means of the compressor 20, through the series of pipes and passages described, raises the piston carried by the piston rod 44 (Fig. 6). In being thus moved, piston rod 44 transmits a similar movement to the relatively parallel valve rod 45, shown in broken sections in Figures 5 and 6. To transmit movement from piston rod 44 to valve rod 45, a bifurcated clamp 46 (Fig. 11) is amxed to the piston rod 44 by means of bolts 41. The forks 48 of this clamp embrace the rod 45 and move between the stops 49 carried on the latter (Fig. 6) These stops are adjustable perpendicularly on the rod 45 to predetermine the length of stroke of the pump.

.Referring now specifically to the rotary valve 35 and its control mechanism, it is pointed out that the valve has a flan'ge 50 (Figs. 5 and 12) on one end, and from which a segmental recess 5| has been cut (Fig. 12). This valve and flange corresponds to and is disposed in an annular recess 52 (Fig. 10) and overlying this flange is a disc 53 (Fig. 12), which has a protuberance 54, lying in'the recess 5| of the flange 50. A pin 55 is mounted in the disc 53 opposite its protuberance 54 and to this pin is connected a spring 56 (Fig. 5). .The opposite end of this spring is connected to a clamp 51 mounted on the valve rod 45 (Fig. 5). Accordingly, each time the rod 45 is reciprocated to actuate the valve 35, .ten-

sion is exerted on spring, 56 to insure full movement of the valve, preventing the same from making an incomplete cycleI g The valve 35 is comprised of concentric tubes, the outer being identified by the character 35 while the inner is indicated by reference numeral 56 (Fig. 12). The latter tube carries the disc 53 while the former" carries the flange 56 I The inner tube 56 has a partition 59 (Fig. 12) so that the high pressure gas entering the inner tube at its flanged end, through the passage 34 (Fig.

15) will not interfere with the exhaust gases which are expelled through the opposite end of the valve.

It has been stated that surface gas pressure throughpassage 34 causes the piston 4| to move upward. In so doing, the piston rod 44 is simi- I larly moved and since the latter carries the traveling valve 60, (Fig. 7), well fluid flowing into the working barrel 6| coresponding'to the cylinder 43 Figure 10, and which figure is rotated 90 from Figure 4 thereabove which latter figure shows a continuation of the upward fluid passage 63. In this latter figure is shown the passage 63, topped by a valve 64 (Fig. 4) designed to intercept settling sand but permits the upward passage of oil or other fluid. From this point the fluid enters the tube 22 through ports'24 and 23, now operatively aligned, and enters cavity l6 (Fig; 4) in a similar manner. From cavity IS, the well fluid travels upward through pipe I8 (Figs. 4 and 3) through valve l2 and to the surface through the annular space between the macaroni tubing 21 l and the well tubing 2 (Figs. 3 and 2) into pipe 64, by which it is delivered to storage.

In order to aid in lifting the liquid to the surface through the tubing string and pipe 64, as well as to enrich the oil thus elevated, provision is made for introducing gas under pressure into the space between the tubing 2 and casing 3 (Fig. 2) by means of the compressor 20, through pipes 65 and 65a, pipe 65a being connected to the macaroni tubing into the pump which pressure is controlled by valve 66a. By opening valve 66b in .the pipe 55, and closing valve 66a in pipe 56 (Fig.

1) a pressure is built up in the annular space between the casing 3 and tubing 2 to enter the tubing through the valve ll (Fig. 3). Thus, the gas so introduced may commingle with the oil rising in the tubing, to enrich the same and assist in its conveyance to the surface.

To insure proper lubrication of the moving elements of the pump, a lubricator 660 (Fig. 1) is mounted on pipe 61, the latter connecting with pipes 66 and 65a to the compressor 2!).

Continuing with the description of the pump, it will be noted in Figure '7 that the body 6 of the pump continues downward and is threadedly connected to a bull nipple 68 having a central passage 69 therein. A pipe 10 is threaded into the passage and at a spaced point below this connection there is provided a multiple step,-mandre1 type packer, illustrated in the lower portion of Figure 7. This packer is of conventional construction and is comprised of a composition expansion packer I I having progressive expansion elements l2, l3 and 14, arranged successively on the depending pipe l0. Below the packer H is suspended a perforated tubular element 75 (F igs. 'land 8) to the botto of which is applied a bull nipple l6. 1

In Figure 9 is shown a detail view of the valve means by which the operating gas is exhausted into the space between the tubing 2 and casing 3, for disposal after it has served its intended purpose. The pipe 56a, communicates with the exhaust passage ll, (Fig. 15) rearwardly of the valve 35, and with the exhaust ports 18 in said valve (Figs. 12, 13 and 15) The pipe 75a. extends above the level of the valve ii (Fig. 3) and carries an exhaust valve 19 (Fig. 9) serving to exhaust the gas employed to actuate the piston 4|, into the annular space between the tubing string 2 and casing 3 for disposal through the line 80 (Fig. 2).

In setting up the improved pump for operation, it is first necessary to lower the pump into the casing 3, suspended on the tubing string 2 and upon engaging the well bottom, as shown in Figure 8, the casing packer ll (Fig. 7) is expanded against the casing to isolate the well fluid from the annular casing space around the tubing 2, thus providing an exhaust space into which the axhaust gases may be discharged after having been employed to actuate the pump, in a manner to be presently explained. The next operation usually, in event the level of well fluid in the an. nular casing space is above the exhaust point of the gases, is to s'wab the tubing 2 to lower the level of fluid in this annular space between the casing 3 and tubing 2. This operation is carried.

out in a conventional manner, the fluid being drawn intothe tubing string through the valve I I (Fig. 3) which is provided with the strainer I3.

When the fluid level exteriorly of the tubing string is well below the level of the gas exhaust valve I9 (Fig. 9) which'is above the valve II in assembly, the pump is-made ready to operate. Accordingly, the spear'8 (Fig. 3) carrying the valve member." is mounted on the end of the macaroni string 21 and lowered into the tubing 2, to the position shown in Figure 3. By urging the spear 8 farther down into the tubular member 22, the latter is depressed against the spring 25 (Fig. 4). This action not only aligns the ports 3! in the member 22 with the gas pressure pipe 59 (Fig. 3) but also aligns ports 23 with ports 24 (Fig. 4). Thus, it will'be seen that fluid rising, in a manner to be presently explained, through the passage 6 and valve (Fig 4) may continue upward through ports 24 and 23, into the tubular member 22, and from this member'through the ports 23 and 24, spaced above the first mentioned ports, into the fluid cavity 16, thence upward through pipe I8 (Figs. 4 and 3) through valve 12, thence through the swaged nipple or head iof the pump, into the tubing 2, through which it is forced to the surface by gas pressure set up by the surface compressor 20, and to storpassage 34 and into the flanged end of the rotary valve 35 (Figs. 10 and 12) By referring to Figure 15, it will be observed that when the valve 35 is so disposed that its main'port 38 is in alignment with passage 39 (Figs. 14, 15 and 6), the gas under surface pressure will pass from the valve into passage 39 and through orifice 40 into the cylinder 43 (Fig. 6) below the piston 4!. Thus, the piston begins to rise in the cylinder and it receivesan additional upward thrust upon passing the larger orifice 42. As the piston and its rod 44 move upward under gas pressure thus imposed, itcarries with it thevalve rod 45, parallel therewith, connection between the rods being effected by means of the forked clamp 46 (Figs. 6 and 11). When the valve rod 45 reaches a certain predetermined level, tension on the spring 56 becomes such that the valve 35 is snapped to an opposite position, as shown in Figure 5.

An example of the manner in which the valve 35 is operated to receive and exhaust gas in the lifting of fluid is better illustrated in Figure 21 which is more or less schematic in order to show the series of active ports in the valve. In this figure, it will be observed, gas under pressure is passed into the chamber 36, thence into the open end of valve 35 and since the piston H is in its. "up position, the valve is in such, position as to bring into register its ports 38 and 81. Simultaneously, ports 18 and 82 in the opposite end of valve 35 are brought into register but partition 59 separates the ports 388I from 1 down stroke.

ports '|8-82 in order that both ends of the valve will function at the same time in charging and exhausting the cylinder 43. I

Gas entering the valve 35 from the chamber 36 passes through ports 8| and 38 into passage 83 (Figs. 21 and 20) 'an'd'into cylinder 43 first through orifice 84, then through orifice 85 when the piston 4| is lowered in the cylinder on its Gas in the cylinder 43 under the piston 4| is discharged through ports 48 and 42 inthe lower end of the cylinder,.into passage 39 but since the valve 35 is now so disposed as to close ports to passage 39 the gas is forced through pipe 16a and valve I9 (Fig. 9) which latter exhausts the gas into the annular space between .the tubing: and easing 3 at, a level'just above the valve II in Figure 3.

As the piston 4| is thus urged downward in the cylinder 43, fluid entering the working barrel 7 6| through the standing valve 62 (Figs. '7 and 21) actuates the traveling valve 68 and is entrapped thereabove'and is forced out of the working barrel into the passage 81, whence it is elevated to the surface through passage 63 (Figs. 10 and!) through valve 64 (Fig. 4) into tubular member 22 through aligned ports 23 and 24, into cavity I6, thence upward through pipe .I8, which in Figure 3 is shown as entering the swaged headl through valve I2 and passage I8 to finally enter the tubing string 2 and escape through pipe 64 to storage, (Fig. 2).

The foregoing description deals with the downward passage of gas under pressure, set up by the surface compressor 28 (Fig. 1) and the actuation thereby of the piston 4| in the cylinder 43 to operate the traveling valve 68, thereby to eifect displacement and consequent elevation of well fluid to the surface. Mention of certain details of physical construction of the pump elements and their relationship has been omitted as being possibly deleterious to a proper understanding of the operation of the pump. It is, however, pointed out that in this pump, valvessuch as shown at 64in Figure 4; II and I2 inTigure 3, and I9 in Figure 9 are instrumental in preventing the pump from sanding up which is the annoying condition in mechanical rod actuated well pumps. It is not possible to employ this type of valve in this latter type of pump and sand frequently impairs the cups and packing, especially when the pump has been shut down fora period of time. Accordingly, the present invention meets a needed requirement insofar asthe dis-, posal of sand is concerned. In Figures 16 to 19 inclusive is illustrated a modified form of valve in that it is a reciprocating instead of a rotary type such as shown in Figure 12. In Figure 16 is shown a piston rod 88, comparable with the piston rod 44 in the previously described construction. Shown also is a valve operatingrod' 89 which is. parallel with the rod 88 and is actuated thereby in the same or similar manner that rod 46 in Figure 6 is operated by rod 44 in this figure.

The stops 98 in Figure 16 determine the length I of stroke of the rod 89 and its movement is transmitted to the valve rod 9| through the mechanism shown in Figures 16 and 19 to reciprocate the valve 92, which is mounted preferably above the assembly shown in Figure 16, the valve rod 9| being shown at the lower portion of Figure 17.

'I'hevalve proper is solid and slidably arranged I I4 extending thereinto.

in a cylindrical shell 93 and is constructed with a V vertically reciprocated. When the valve is in the position shown in Figure 17, one of its annular grooves 94 is in register with ports 95 in the shell 93 to admit gas under pressure to the passage 96, which latter communicates with the compressor 28 on the surface, in the same manner as in the preceding description. Gas pressure thus introduced into passage 96 continues through this passage, around the groove 94 and into the opposite passage 91 to the cylinder, comparable to the cylinder 43 in Figure 6 andcompanion figures to lift the piston therein in a manner identical to that previously described.

Simultaneously annular groove 98 in the valve 92 is in register with ports 99 in the shell 93,

as well as with passages I88 in thebody. These passages are exhaust passages communicating with the cylinder (not shown) to exhaust gases therefrom when the piston changes its direction of travel. These are comparable to the exhaust ports and passages of the valve 35 shown schematically in Figure 21.

In the opposite position of the valve 92, i. e., when its position is changed to alter the passage of gas under pressure to change the piston stroke,

. annular groove I8II becomes aligned with corresponding passages I82 whileannular groove I83 is brought into register with corresponding passages I 84 near the bottom of the assembly. Gas

under pressure is now permitted to pass through the lower annular groove through passage I84 to the cylinder (not shown) through the diametrically opposite passage I84, to actuate the piston in said cylinder.

To insure against disalignment of ports and passages, the arrangement shown in Figures 16 and 19 is provided and consists of a collar I88, into which sections of the valve rod 9| are threaded; This collar is slotted transversely at a (Fig. 16) to receive a clevis I81, pivotally journalled in a bracket I88 mounted on a stationary portion of the assembly, (Fig. 16) As the clamp I89, mounted on piston rod 88 moves either up or down its single finger I I8 engages one or the other of the stops 98 carried in spaced relationship on the valve operating rod 89, thereby displacing the same longitudinally either up or down.

Since springs III are connected at one end to the rod 89 by means of clamps H2 and at their opposite ends to the clevis I81, there is a tendency I of the valve, at each extreme position to exceed the speed of the rods and snapinto position under the tension of springs II I. Accordingly, there is no likelihood of the valve member 92 stopping short of its required position to eifect alignment,

in bringing into register its respective ports and 1 passages to actuate the piston and in so doing, discharge the fluid from the well by gas under pressure.

Manifestly, the construction as shownand described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for elevating liquid in wells including in combination with a string of tubing, means to isolate wellfluid below said apparatus, a cylinder suspended by said tubing, a piston therein, means on the surface for compressing and conveying into said cylinder a gaseous medium to actuate said piston, a working barrel, a standing valve therein, a traveling valve operated by said piston in said working barrel, means effecting communication between said working barrel and surface for conveying said liquid upward in a course separated from that of the downward passage of said gaseous medium, valve means operated at each extreme position of said piston to charge and exhaust gases from said cylinder and valved means for withdrawing, through said tubing string, fluid exteriorly of the same preparatory to operating said pump.

2. Apparatus for pumping liquid from wells including in combination with a string of tubing, packing means for restricting the level of well fluid in a well, a body suspended in said well by said tubing, a tubular sleeve reciprocably mounted in said body and having ports therein alignable with passages in said body, a cylinder also in said body having ports in either end, a valve in control of said latter ports, a reciprocable piston in said cylinder having operative connection with said valve, surface means for actuating said tubular sleeve to efiect alignment of its ports with said passages preparatory to introduction into said cylinder a gaseous medium from the surface to operate said piston, a pump barrel, a traveling valve in said pump barrel and also operated by said piston to elevate liquid through passages in said body to the surface, and means to exhaust used gases from said cylinder out of said body.

3. Apparatus for pumping liquid from wells as set forth in claim 2 in which valve means is provided to direct liquid elevated to the surface through a course separate from the downward course of the gaseous medium.

4. A well pump including in combination with a tubing and casing string, a casing packer, a body suspended by said tubing having a cylinder therein, a second and smaller tubing string within said first string and communicating with said cylinder at the upper and lower ends of the latter, surface means for compressing a gaseous medium and introducing the same into said cylinder, a piston operated thereby in said cylinder, valve means indirectly operated by said piston for controlling the passage of said gaseous medium into and the exhaust thereof out of said cylinder, means carried by said piston for elevating liquid through said body and first tubing string in a course separated from that of the downward passage of gaseous medium, and valved means for exhausting the latter exteriorly of said body.

5. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 4 in which the body is provided with valve means to admit well fluid into the first tubing string during a swabbing operation of said tubing string to reduce the level of well fluid below the point of exhaust ofthe gaseous medium, preparatory to setting said well pump in operation, said valve means being likewise capable of admitting gas into said first tubing string introduced into the space between the latter and the casing string.

6. Apparatus for pumping liquid from a well including in" combination with a tubing string, packing means to hold well fluid at a predetermined level in said well, a body suspended by said string in a well, a cylinder in said body having ports in either end, a piston in said cylinder, a valve in control of said ports, surface means for compressing and passing into said valve a gaseous medium for transfer thereby into said cylinder through its ports toreciprocate said piston, means operated bysaid piston to,

actuate said valve, a standing valve, a traveling valve also operated by said piston, means for transferring to the surface, through said tubing string, liquid elevated by said traveling valve in a course separated from that of the downward passage of said gaseous medium, means for-introducing a gaseous medium into said well exteriorly of said tubing string, and valve means for admitting said gaseous medium into said tubing as an auxiliary lifting and enriching agent for said liquid.

RALPH P. GRAYSON. 

